MKS Instruments
A Day in Your Life at MKS:As a Software Engineering Manager at MKS, you will partner with electrical, mechanical, and optical engineering teams, as well as teams in marketing, product introduction, and manufacturing to lead and grow a globally distributed team of software and firmware engineers. In this role, you will report to the Director of Core Engineering.
In this role, you will guide the team through the entire new product development lifecycle to develop the most advanced lasers in the world. Your focus will be on building team capabilities, driving technical execution, and fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing engineering culture. This role requires experience managing international teams, particularly those based in Europe, and the ability to coordinate effectively across time zones. You Will Make an Impact By:
Lead, mentor, and support a distributed team of software and firmware engineers across multiple regions
Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for firmware and backend software development, including architecture, design, and implementation
Establish team priorities, set goals, and drive execution to deliver robust, maintainable, and scalable solutions
Collaborate with hardware and systems teams to ensure seamless software/hardware integration
Champion engineering best practices in code quality, testing, documentation, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD)
Participate actively in code reviews to ensure high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented code across the team
Ensure software development processes meet high standards of reliability, maintainability, and compliance
Guide the adoption and usage of tools such as Confluence, Jira, and Microsoft Azure DevOps to manage workflows, documentation, and releases
Facilitate clear, consistent communication across international teams, and promote cross-regional collaboration
Support engineers in career growth, performance development, and technical decision-making
Translate business and product objectives into clear, actionable engineering plans.
Drive Agile process development and execution (e.g., sprints, Kanban), and lead project management activities to ensure timely, quality delivery
Travel Requirements: Up to 10% of Travel is required
Skills You Bring:
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
8+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in a leadership or management role.
Proven track record of managing distributed engineering teams.
Strong technical foundation in embedded firmware and/or backend software development.
Proficiency in one or more programming languages C (must), C#, C++, Python preferred.
· Experience with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, ThreadX and/or QNX
Hands-on experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and strong project management skills.
Experience working with cross-functional hardware/software product development.
Familiarity with Confluence, Jira, and Microsoft Azure DevOps for project tracking and documentation.
Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to deliver complex engineering projects across global teams.
Excellent communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
Preferred:
Industry experience in scientific instrumentation, industrial automation, medical devices, or semiconductor equipment
Experience with real-time embedded systems, hardware abstraction layers, and motion control
Experience with Linux-based systems
Familiarity with system-level integration, validation, and verification
Knowledge of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines
Background working in regulated or safety-critical environments
Experience with UI development for instrument control interfaces
Technical experience with ADC/DAC, I2C, SPI, RS-485, Ethernet, USB, and ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers (e.g., STM32)
Exposure to FPGA systems and low-level peripheral interface development
Proficiency in using Git-based source control systems (e.g., Azure DevOps, GitHub, GitLab)
What We Offer:
A leadership role in a globally distributed engineering organization tackling technically challenging problems
An opportunity to work on cutting-edge products at the intersection of hardware and software
A collaborative culture focused on innovation, quality, and continuous improvement
Competitive compensation and benefits
Opportunities for growth and advancement within a technology-driven environment
Physical Demands and Working Conditions:• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery• This job operates in a professional office and laboratory environment
We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.
Compensation and Benefits: Salary Pay Range: $160,000 to $220,000 per year. This range is a good faith esti mate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law.
At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.
Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].
Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.].
MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disabilit y, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details .
#LI-EKI
Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. persons.” “U.S. persons” are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com .
If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role
In this role, you will guide the team through the entire new product development lifecycle to develop the most advanced lasers in the world. Your focus will be on building team capabilities, driving technical execution, and fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing engineering culture. This role requires experience managing international teams, particularly those based in Europe, and the ability to coordinate effectively across time zones. You Will Make an Impact By:
Lead, mentor, and support a distributed team of software and firmware engineers across multiple regions
Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for firmware and backend software development, including architecture, design, and implementation
Establish team priorities, set goals, and drive execution to deliver robust, maintainable, and scalable solutions
Collaborate with hardware and systems teams to ensure seamless software/hardware integration
Champion engineering best practices in code quality, testing, documentation, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD)
Participate actively in code reviews to ensure high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented code across the team
Ensure software development processes meet high standards of reliability, maintainability, and compliance
Guide the adoption and usage of tools such as Confluence, Jira, and Microsoft Azure DevOps to manage workflows, documentation, and releases
Facilitate clear, consistent communication across international teams, and promote cross-regional collaboration
Support engineers in career growth, performance development, and technical decision-making
Translate business and product objectives into clear, actionable engineering plans.
Drive Agile process development and execution (e.g., sprints, Kanban), and lead project management activities to ensure timely, quality delivery
Travel Requirements: Up to 10% of Travel is required
Skills You Bring:
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
8+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in a leadership or management role.
Proven track record of managing distributed engineering teams.
Strong technical foundation in embedded firmware and/or backend software development.
Proficiency in one or more programming languages C (must), C#, C++, Python preferred.
· Experience with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, ThreadX and/or QNX
Hands-on experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and strong project management skills.
Experience working with cross-functional hardware/software product development.
Familiarity with Confluence, Jira, and Microsoft Azure DevOps for project tracking and documentation.
Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to deliver complex engineering projects across global teams.
Excellent communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
Preferred:
Industry experience in scientific instrumentation, industrial automation, medical devices, or semiconductor equipment
Experience with real-time embedded systems, hardware abstraction layers, and motion control
Experience with Linux-based systems
Familiarity with system-level integration, validation, and verification
Knowledge of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines
Background working in regulated or safety-critical environments
Experience with UI development for instrument control interfaces
Technical experience with ADC/DAC, I2C, SPI, RS-485, Ethernet, USB, and ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers (e.g., STM32)
Exposure to FPGA systems and low-level peripheral interface development
Proficiency in using Git-based source control systems (e.g., Azure DevOps, GitHub, GitLab)
What We Offer:
A leadership role in a globally distributed engineering organization tackling technically challenging problems
An opportunity to work on cutting-edge products at the intersection of hardware and software
A collaborative culture focused on innovation, quality, and continuous improvement
Competitive compensation and benefits
Opportunities for growth and advancement within a technology-driven environment
Physical Demands and Working Conditions:• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery• This job operates in a professional office and laboratory environment
We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.
Compensation and Benefits: Salary Pay Range: $160,000 to $220,000 per year. This range is a good faith esti mate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law.
At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.
Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].
Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.].
MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disabilit y, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details .
#LI-EKI
Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. persons.” “U.S. persons” are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com .
If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role